Hello folks, welcome to chapter 22! Sorry for the hiatus, but here we are! Scarily, this has 3000 words, so I hope you guys enjoy! ^^
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The afternoon air was crisp and fresh, sunshiny and beautiful. It was not at all matching with what the town had in mind.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" X stood on a makeshift stage, his smile villainous and with horrid intent. He paced a bit as he spoke. "I welcome you to a wonderful sight, the death of those that went against us!"
A crowd cheered below the stage, joyfully watching the three wooden stakes in front, which each held Anais, Penny, and Vanessa. They struggled in the ropes, but couldn't get free of them, clear panic on their faces.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't find the main freak." X's face soured, but went back to an unsettling happiness. "However we found another!"
He gestured over to Vanessa, who scowled upon her mention. This didn't phase him. "Ah, one of the building freaks! Think you could leave my eyesight? Wrong! I'm always watching."
The crowd cheered in response, some echoing his words with agreement.
"Now then, with this freak, combined with these two utter fools who thought they could stop us from keeping this town to its glory, they will all burn alive for all to see! This is what happens when you side with the freaks!"
More cheers were heard.
"Without further ado," X lifted up a lighter, his grin wider. He approached the stakes, enjoying the terror that was seen on the girls' faces. "Let's begin."
"Mr. X!"
The man paused, turning towards the front of the stage. He noticed a freckle-faced cat child jumping in the crowd, seemingly interesting of an individual. Considering their dull blue and orange fur and stature, he couldn't help but compare them to a certain cat-fish. He shook the thought. Must've just been a coincidence. "Hello kid, what important thing do you need to say?"
G/D fidgeted, slightly unsure what to answer with. Luckily, Gumball was pretty good at quick responses. "I'm a really huge fan of all the stuff you do! I just wanna say that I'm really happy to see these awful people die!"
That felt sour in their mouth.
"I always love seeing those who look up to me," X replied, smiling fondly. He came closer, lending out a hand to the two. "Say, why don't you help me light these stakes?"
"Really? That's so cool thank you!" They replied, trying hard to keep their excited persona as they took the gesture, hoisted up onto the platform. It was a challenge to keep from looking at the three girls still struggling, who they knew were unaware of their disguise. They could only hope that all would be okay soon.
"What's your name kid?" X asked, as he led them over, both now center-stage. His eyebrow was raised with curiosity, studying the two with interest.
At first they hesitated, but Gumball answered. "Darrrr...ik! Darrik Guff!"
"Darrik, a fascinating name." The man said, nodding. He handed them the lighter, which was now lit and waiting. "Well, why don't you do the honors?"
The two froze, staring at it in their paws. Clear nervousness could be seen on their face, as they were trying to get themselves to move. They weren't expecting this. It wasn't the plan at all. How could they ease their way out of burning up their friends alive? Unfortunately, as they were trying to think, their disguise was slowly fading.
They flinched, feeling X patting their shoulder. "It's okay to be nervous, I can see why you would be."
He suddenly lifted them up, grinning as he faced them towards the crowd. Their disguise vanished, and the crowd gasped in horror at the reveal. "Because you freaks really thought you could trick me!"
G/D struggled in his grip, and they were suddenly thrown off stage, face planting onto the grass below. As they lifted theirselves up, they realized why they were thrown.
"Kill them!" X shouted, as he prepared the igniter he snagged off the floor, light burnt out. The three girls were at shock by the event, desperately trying to escape now.
"No!" The two cried, getting up as they raced back to get to him. They were soon surrounded by the angry crowd, who wielded whatever they had to kill them. Pocketknives, lipstick, even a pack of gum somehow. That one caused them to raise an eyebrow.
It seemed fruitless now though, as there wasn't a way to get past them. As G/D cowered, a sudden shout was heard from the distance. They as well as everyone else turned towards the voice, as a familiar yellow station wagon screeched to a stop in the street.
"Hey! Get away from my kids you cult member wannabes!" Nicole stepped out of the vehicle with an utter rage, with Richard following suit from the passenger side, who shared a bit of her anger. "You want someone to fight?! Come and get me!"
The crowd cried out, as it made its way past G/D and towards the parents with their items. It was no use however, as the older cat easily began taking them down one by one.
"I got the crowd!" She yelled to the two between her fighting, slamming two heads of citizens together to get them unconscious. "Go save the girls sweeties!"
They nodded and made their way up the stage, determination filling them. X had been distracted by the sudden commotion, too angry that he forgot to even light the stakes whatsoever. He grew startled as G/D kicked him, sending him landing onto the floor of the platform. "That's for throwing us off this stage you jerk!"
X scowled, as he got to his feet. The two scowled back, unsheathing their claws. "You want a fight? You'll get a fight!"
He took out his dagger, and angrily began to swipe at them. G/D dodged the attacks quickly, returning the action as they swung their claws. They managed to slice through a bit of X's shirt, but not enough to make a heavy wound just yet.
"You'll pay for that!" The man snarled, as he leapt at them.
While they fought, G/D got close to Vanessa's stake, cutting through the rope with a swift swish. "Go untie Anais and Penny! We'll handle him!"
"On it!" She dropped the ropes from her wrists and sprinted towards the other two remaining structures.
"I'm not going to lie; this is not how I planned this would go down." X gave a flurry of punches, to which Gumball/Darwin could not keep up, beginning to get tired as they were whacked constantly. He soon knocked them over, raising his dagger. "My group told me that you were shot back in the woods. I'm surprised you're even alive up to this point still. It angers me."
"W-Well they have terrible eyesight." The two responded, staggering as they got back up. All the fighting at the moment was doing a number on them, bruises seen all over. "Besides we got help anyways from innocent people."
"Good for you." The man narrowed his eyes. "Manipulating others into believing your lies."
"We never lied! I-It was you that's been lying to everyone saying how dangerous we are!"
X knocked them back down, aiming his dagger right at their chest. "Nice try freak, but your life ends here."
"Hey X!"
He paused, looking up to see Anais glaring at him, now free from her capture. X could only scowl in reply.
"Oh, sounds like you didn't expect your little scummy witch trial to fail so hard huh?" She did not move, only giving a rather mocking expression. Though, there was also a hint of anger in there.
Before he could react, Vanessa suddenly punched him in the back, sending him flying into the stage's makeshift floor face first.
"Penny! Now!" The fox yelled.
The mentioned fairy quickly scooped up a beaten Gumball/Darwin. Unfortunately, due to her shaken stature at the moment, she couldn't shapeshift, forced to only be able to drag them out of harm's way. The other two girls followed her, and they quickly made their exit out of the area.
Gumball/Darwin were very much tired and miserable, slowly coming to. Had they been knocked out? They soon noticed they were sprawled out onto an old table, which was covered with a soft blanket, while another of different material was on top of them. The two looked over at their sister. "..Where are we?.."
"An abandoned building. Rather recent one, I think a family home?" She was sitting in a chair nearby, keeping watch of them. "How are you holding up?"
"..To be honest.." They sat up sluggishly, rubbing their eyes. "..Dunno. There's been.. So much lately.. It's been tiring.. And really, really, really annoying constantly having to go through it.."
"...Where did you guys go?" She asked.
"..The woods. Mob followed us, we got shot. Nice mom and kid helped us out, they had somebody like us too once. But that stupid X guy just had to ruin it!" Gumball angrily said, as the two glanced down, holding their head as they felt tears surface. They were fully awake now, the painful memories resurfacing. "Those people were killed just because they helped us out! Why?!"
Vanessa and Penny looked over at them, concern and sorrow each on their face. They soon looked at each other, both thinking the same thing.
Anais let out a small sigh, as she embraced her brothers into a hug, to which they desperately held onto tightly. "..X is a monster. At this point I don't know if he even cares if this is for 'the good of Elmore' or whatever, it's for his own benefit. It's wrong. You two shouldn't have to suffer to him."
They didn't answer, only crying as they hugged her.
"..I assume Carrie helped you out.." Penny began to speak up, though was quiet with her words. She was just as shaken up and tired as everyone else in the group. "..With the disguise and all.."
"..Rob too." Darwin said. Even he couldn't find positivity in any of this. It felt so off for him to be this devastated by it all, his voice quiet and melancholy. "He found us in the woods after... The fire... And took us to the dump to talk for a bit.. And we went to Carrie's for help.."
Suddenly, they let go of Anais, and coughed harshly into their sleeve. Realizing this, they looked down, seeing the familiar red. The others noticed too.
"How long?"
They flinched, as Vanessa appeared from behind them. "What?"
"How long have you been coughing like that?" She asked, serious, but sharing worry. "Is it from the fight?"
"..No." Gumball answered, hesitant. "It's from the stab wound.. Rob noticed it earlier too.. Carrie gave us a potion for it but I guess it wore off... And well... Rob said that if we don't get like, a doctor in a few hours we'll..."
He cut off.
The girls looked at each other with worry, and whispered something that Gumball/Darwin couldn't hear all too well. The two frowned, watching them speak to one another, before clearing their throat. "Are you guys done?.. We're right here you know."
Vanessa took the moment to speak, letting out an exhale. She looked uncharacteristically hesitant. "..I don't know if this is helpful, but.. In the lab, I found.. A tape."
She lifted up a pretty standard VHS tape, the others curious by the reveal. The fox noticed a television set in the room, thankfully intact enough that it looked like it could play. "..I don't know what's on it, but I found it nearby some uh.. Tools."
"Play it! Maybe it could give us information on how to fix the injury!" Anais ushered her to stick it into the VHS player, eyes wide with urgency. She couldn't deny the fear she felt about this situation, the thought of something happening to her brothers.. It was too much.
"Alright, here goes." Vanessa carefully turned the TV on, and pushed the tape inside. Thankfully, it crackled to life, for a moment only showing static. However, it soon began, the others crowding around to watch, G/D in the front. Admittedly, they wanted to know what it was too.
On screen, it showed Gilson standing in front of the camera, with that psychotic punchable grin. "Hello Miranda, I have a special tape for you this afternoon. You will be happy to know that soon, we will meet again. Experiment number 211 will be the one."
The man moves the camera, revealing a horrific sight, making everyone watching gasp. There laid Gumball and Darwin strapped onto the metal tables, lifeless and slumped upward, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. At least, what was left of them. Half of the work had been done, Gumball's body being center piece as parts were sewn onto him. The sight of Darwin was heartbreaking to witness, too gruesome to even describe, as blood surrounded most of the missing parts of him. Scraps could be seen in a box nearby, one of Gumball's arms sticking out of it.
Anais's eyes widened in horror, recognizing the crate. It had been the one she bumped into that day upon the discovery of her brothers. She hadn't even known at the time. Meanwhile, Penny was in tears, unable to keep it together. Gumball/Darwin tried to comfort both her and their sister, seeing how upset they were. They could share the sentiment, feeling disturbed and uncomfortable by this new information.
Vanessa watched the screen, a single tear scrolling down her cheek, as she said not a word.
Gilson moves the camera back, still retaining that horrible smile. Had he been smiling when cutting them apart? "I'm looking forward to finally seeing you again, it pains me every day I'm without you.. I've sworn off taking transportation since that day, even when you return. Regardless of the matter, I do share a rather interesting discovery. I've never seen anything like this from the other experiments before.."
He holds up two yellow hearts, covered in red splotches. They began to light up into a dim warm glow upon being seen, as his smile grows wider. Gumball/Darwin are quick to cover Anais's eyes the moment the scene came on, not wanting her to see it. It was best she knew by words rather than pictures. Though, they couldn't help but keep their pupilless eyes glued to the screen, shock filling them. Admittedly, they had a feeling this was the answer they would get, but.. It all felt overwhelming.
Gilson on screen finally sets the organs down, allowing the two to uncover their sister's eyes. "This may finally be the perfect experiment. Both hearts are functional, a first it seems. I'll stitch these organs together once the tape concludes, and my creation will rise to have the perfect of halves. Two hearts, two personalities, two brains, two of both, just like you my daughter."
Everyone was silent, as if a bombshell had been dropped on them.
"I bid you farewell, there's lot more to be done. Best to get this complete before the parts expire." With that, the tape ended, cutting to static. For a moment, nobody said a word. That was, until Gumball/Darwin finally spoke, a look of disgust in their expression.
"That dude had a daughter?! Eww!"
"Gumball! Show some respect!"
"How can I show respect to the guy that literally ruined our lives?!" Gumball's voice grew angry, as the two bickered to themselves, the others watching with confusion.
"Not for him, the kid! Maybe she was adopted to that horrible guy!" Darwin meanwhile was sounding more upset, at the verge of tears. "The last thing for you to think of, you choose to say she's disgusting even though she probably had no choice in this?! She's probably dead too! Did you think of that?!"
"Dude no I didn't mean it that way!" The cat now shared sadness, regretting his response. "I'm sorry you know I act without thinking sometimes! I didn't mean to hurt you.. Honest.."
The two stood there for a moment, staring at the floor. Anais approached, as worry was in her eyes. "..Are you guys okay?.."
"..Yeah, yeah we are.. Sorry.." Gumball muttered, as they focused their attention to her. "..Darwin's okay now, we just had to talk it out for a sec.."
"Wait, you can talk in your minds? Actually, I don't know why I didn't expect that.. Whatever." She tried to shake away the unnecessary thoughts. "..How do you feel about the um.. Tape?.."
"Oh.. That.." The two hesitated, thinking carefully of their words this time. "..It's.. Something I guess. We.. Kinda figured that was how we survived.."
Penny suddenly hugged them, wiping away her tears. "I'm so sorry you two went through that.. I-I didn't know it was that bad.."
"It's not your fault Penny," Darwin replied, as they hugged back, their surprise slowly fading. "well.. Not ours either.."
"So.." Vanessa cleared her throat, gaining the attention of everyone. She awkwardly stood there, unsure what to make of these scenes. "The injury looks to be.. At bay for now. Do you.. Know about this?"
"Sorta.." The two let go of the fairy, frowning as they thought to themselves. "It's kinda our friendship thing? Darwin grew legs and lungs because of it, so.. Maybe it's trying to keep us alive like that?"
"Sounds about right." Anais said with a nod. "Though.. It might not be that way for long. There's no way it can keep fighting for you two forever.."
"We'll have to get moving then." Vanessa cut in, seriousness in her eyes. She had her hands on her hips as she spoke. "We can hide somewhere safe until-"
"..No."
"Huh?" The fox blinked, looking at Gumball/Darwin with surprise. "What do you mean no?"
"We can't hide anymore.." They gestured to the area around the group, a deep frown on their face. "X needs to be stopped, he's a monster! If he thought killing a ton of kids and an innocent family was okay, what else is he going do? What if he tries to kill our parents, or all our friends? We can't just sit here waiting for him to come to his senses when we know that won't come!"
Gumball/Darwin walked over to the door, for a moment wincing at their wound. They chose to ignore it. "We have to fix this mess. If it's not us, then who else will?"
The girls hesitated for a moment, but soon followed right after them. They shared a look of worry, yet seriousness. G/D however had nothing but sheer determination and anger. Just as Penny got to the door, they turned to her, unable to hide the added uneasiness they felt. "Penny, go home.. Please.. We don't want you to get any more hurt than you already did.."
She slowly nodded, taking her leave cautiously and carefully. By then the fairy was gone, hopefully soon to be safe with her family.
"Are you guys sure you can handle this?.." Anais asked, looking at her brothers with an undeniable amount of concern. "This isn't like anything we've done before.. What if he's hiding?"
"C'mon sis, we're the Wattersons." The two gave a smile, as Gumball's voice echoed through the abandoned home. "The danger always comes to us."
With that, they set off, G/D taking lead in front. There was no telling what could happen, but they were willing to see it through. Nothing was going to get in their way.